Workforce Development & Economic Policy

Governors are working to expand economic opportunity and advance the nation’s global competitiveness by developing the skilled workforce and economic environment required for individuals, businesses and communities to thrive.

As the chief executive officers of their states, Governors set strategic priorities to align workforce and economic development activities to build a shared vision of societal and economic well-being. The NGA Workforce Development & Economic Policy program supports Governors and their appointees in developing and executing on these priorities.

Featured Initiatives

NGA Workforce Development Technical Assistance Program

NGA provides advisors and other Governor-appointed state workforce system leaders with technical assistance on a broad range of workforce development policy issues through policy memoranda; in-state site visits and presentations, and facilitated connections with subject matter experts. The team also holds biannual convenings and monthly briefings and issues a weekly newsletter.

Workforce Strategic Planning Collaborative

The NGA Center’s joint project with the U.S. Department of Labor supports Governors and their advisors as they develop and implement their federally required four-year strategic plans for workforce development. Technical assistance offerings include an emphasis on implementation of federal investments that passed during the 117^th Congress, namely the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act.

NGA Economic Policy Advisors and Economic Policy Technical Assistance

NGA provides Governor-appointed state economic development leaders and advisors with highly responsive and customized best practice research, strategic planning facilitation, timely information from federal partners and subject matter experts, and other support on a broad range of economic policy priorities. This includes an upcoming virtual event series as well as a bi-weekly newsletter.

Meet The Team

Jack Porter, Program Director
Sophia Yager, Senior Policy Analyst
Eric Aboodi, Policy Analyst
Malena Dailey, Policy Analyst

Focus Areas

Apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship
Sector-focused workforce and economic development strategies
Workforce development financing, governance, and innovation
Outdoor recreation & economic development
Service-to-career pathways and public sector employment
IIJA, CHIPS and IRA implementation Future of work, digital transformation and digital skills
Disability inclusive workforce policy

Services Available

Strategic planning facilitation and best practice guidance on workforce and economic development topics or initiatives
Strategic guidance, feedback and meeting facilitation services for Governor-appointed state workforce development boards
Convenings for workforce and economic development advisors and state leaders on emerging issues
Regular newsletters for state workforce and economic development leaders
Customized research briefs and best practice presentations upon request

Workforce Development Library

Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Project

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices is working with States in a new learning collaborative on strategies to grow and retain the next generation of the healthcare workforce ...

Leveraging Technology for Human-Centered One-Stop Workforce Service Delivery

A case study of the Hawai‘i Career Acceleration Navigator -- an accessible, data-driven and full-service government platform for unemployed people and other jobseekers to search for jobs and access supportive ...

Governors Welcome Action to Address Teacher Shortages

Today, National Governors Association Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Vice Chair Utah Governor Spencer Cox released the following statement regarding the administration’s efforts to address teacher shortages and ...

Governors Focus on the Recovery of Travel and Tourism at the NGA Summer Meeting

A look at the discussion Governors had with travel and tourism industry leaders regarding the industry’s impact on economic activity and job creation. At the NGA Summer Meeting, Governors met ...

K-12 Computer Science Education – NGA 2022 Summer Meeting

Outgoing NGA Chairman Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson opened the NGA Summer Meeting with an overview of his 2021-2022 Chairman’s Initiative to expand K-12 computer science education. After announcing the initiative last ...

Leveraging the Digital Equity Act To Advance Digital Skills

This guide offers three key strategies and guiding questions for employers to contribute to Digital Equity Act planning and implementation, as well as strategies for state policymakers to support and ...

State Policy Playbook To Advance Youth Apprenticeship

By supporting and expanding youth apprenticeship programs, states can create stronger connections across secondary and postsecondary educational institutions, workforce development systems and community-based organizations. (Download) Executive Summary During a time ...

Governors Implement: Broadband, Workforce Innovation and Digital Equity

How Governors are Advancing Workforce Innovation, Broadband Access and Digital Skills in America’s Workforce. By Rachael Stephens and Katherine Ash This week, Governors’ broadband advisors and workforce development leaders will ...

Pre-Apprenticeship Action Lab

National Governors Association, in partnership with Education Strategy Group, and thanks to support from the Siemens Foundation, hosted its fourth in a series of Action Labs as part of its ...

Economic Policy Library

Recent Treasury Report Fails to Account for Allocated Coronavirus Relief Funds as the Country Faces Historic Drop in GDP and Record Unemployment

The seven bipartisan organizations representing state and local governments today responded to a recent report by the Department of Treasury about state expenditures from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) approved ...

If state and local governments continue to struggle, so will America

Opinion by Bill McBride, Matthew Chase, Clarence Anthony, Marc A. Ott, Tim Storey, David Adkins and Tom Cochran ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON CNN.COMWhile much of the media and the public remain ...

Four Ways Congress Can Partner with States and Territories to Combat COVID-19

Susie Perez Quinn | Director, Government Relations As leaders of their respective states and territories, governors are battling the effects of the coronavirus on all fronts: protecting and supporting public ...

National Governors Association Leadership Statement on Congressional Coronavirus Relief Negotiations

Governors Larry Hogan of Maryland, the National Governors Association chair, and Andrew Cuomo of New York, the NGA vice chair, issued the following statement about the ongoing congressional coronavirus relief ...

National Governors Association Leadership Urges Senate to Approve State Stabilization Funding

‘Fight the Virus Together and Make an Economic Recovery a Reality’ Governors Larry Hogan of Maryland, the National Governors Association chair, and Andrew Cuomo of New York, the NGA vice ...

State and Local Coalition Comes Together to Appeal for Federal Aid as Fiscal Year Ends

As a new fiscal year begins for most state and local governments, a coalition of state and local organizations, business groups, labor unions and others made a unified appeal to ...

Coalition Letter Advocating for Federal Aid to State and Local Governments

June 29, 2020 The Honorable Mitch McConnellMajority Leader, United States SenateU.S. Capitol Building, Room S-230Washington, DC 20510The Honorable Chuck SchumerMinority Leader, United States SenateU.S. Capitol Building, Room S-224Washington, DC 20510 ...

Short-Time Compensation Programs as a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy

(View/Download) Introduction This memo provides governors and state officials with an overview of the Short-Time Compensation (STC) program and opportunities for developing, promoting, and expanding state STC programs during the ...

Governors Hail Passage of Great American Outdoors Act

Governors applaud the passage of S. 3422, the Great American Outdoors Act. This bipartisan legislation will help states to meet their outdoor recreation needs by providing stability and certainty in ...